Note: Below is a complete playlist of all 18 songs that can be heard in the drama film “American Beauty”. Some of these commercial songs are not included on the official soundtrack album, but are used in the movie.
All 18 songs featured in “American Beauty”:
| Song: | Listen on: |
|---|---|
| Dead Already - Thomas Newman Timestamp: 0:01 | Scene: Song can be heard right at the beginning of the movie. Lester speaks. |   |
| Bali Ha'i - Peggy Lee Timestamp: 0:06 | Scene: Family's having dinner. | |
| On Broadway - Paul Lavendar Timestamp: 0:15 | Scene: The schoolgirls dance to this song in the gym. | |
| Use Me - Bill Withers Timestamp: 0:20 | Scene: Jane and Angela are in the car. | |
| Open the Door - Betty Carter Timestamp: 0:22 | Scene: Lester searches Jane's things and then calls Angela. | |
| We Havn't Turned Around - Gomez Timestamp: 0:37 | Scene: Song can be heard in Jane's room. Angela talks about Lester and that she really likes him. | |
| All Along the Watchtower - Bob Dylan Timestamp: 0:50 | Scene: Lester is training in the garage. | |
| American Woman - The Guess Who Timestamp: 0:56 | Scene: Lester is driving. He smokes a joint. | |
| American Beauty - Thomas Newman Timestamp: 1:01 | Scene: Jane and Ricky are watching a movie. | |
| Call Me Irresponsible (Where Love Has Gone) - Bobby Darin Timestamp: 1:05 | Scene: Lester argues with his wife at dinner. He tells her he quit his job. | |
| Don't Rain On My Parade - Bobby Darin Timestamp: 1:13 | Scene: Carol is on the range. She sings this song as she takes the car home. | |
| The Seeker - The Who Timestamp: 1:22 | Scene: Lester joggt. | |
| All Right Now - Free Timestamp: 1:25 | Scene: Carol finds out that Lester works for Mr. Smileys. | |
| Don't Let It Bring You Down - Annie Lennox Timestamp: 1:42 | Scene: Angela plays this song. Lester tells her she's the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. | |
| Because - Elliott Smith Timestamp: 1:56 | Scene: Song can be heard in the credits. | |
| Tenderfoot - Zen Dadio Timestamp: 2:03 | Scene: Second song to be heard in the credits. | |
| Cancer for the Cure - Eels | |
| As Long As I'm Singing - Bobby Darin | |
The original score of “American Beauty” includes 19 songs by the film composer “Thomas Newman”.
| Song: | Length: |
|---|---|
| Dead Already | 3:18 |
| Arose | 1:05 |
| Power of Denial | 1:43 |
| Lunch With the King | 2:25 |
| Mental Boy | 1:43 |
| Mr. Smarty Man | 1:10 |
| Root Beer | 1:05 |
| American Beauty | 3:06 |
| Bloodless Freak | 1:36 |
| Choking the Bishop | 1:51 |
| Weirdest Home Videos | 2:02 |
| Structure and Discipline | 3:06 |
| Spartanette | 0:59 |
| Angela Undress | 1:43 |
| Marine | 1:34 |
| Walk Home | 1:19 |
| Blood Red | 0:37 |
| Any Other Name | 4:06 |
| Still Dead | 2:46 |
| Total Album Time: 37:14 |
What’s the movie about?
Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) is in the midst of a midlife crisis. His wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) works as a successful real estate agent and his daughter Jane (Thora Birch) can’t do much with her father. One day Lester meets his daughter’s girlfriend. He immediately falls in love with the beautiful Angela (Mena Suvari). Lester decides to change his life. He quits his job, makes friends with the neighbour boy Ricky (Wes Bentley) who sells drugs and starts a liaison with Angela. It’s only a matter of time before his new lifestyle comes to light…